Ben McLemore of Kansas, an All-Big 12 First Team pick and consensus All-America second team choice in 2012-13, led four Big 12 players selected in the 2013 NBA Draft. It marks the eighth straight year that at least one Big 12 athlete has been chosen among the top seven picks in the draft.

McLemore’s pick gives the Big 12 a total of 19 top 10 choices in its short 17-year history, including nine in the past eight seasons. Overall, 44 players have been drafted in the last six years.

Jayhawk teammate Jeff Withey was the next pick from the conference when he was selected in the second round by Portland at No. 39 overall. KU has now had a total of 25 players chosen since the Big 12 began play in 1996-97, more than any other league school. Guard Pierre Jackson of Baylor was next, heading to the Philadelphia 76ers with the No. 42 selection. He is the fourth BU player in the last two years to be drafted and fifth since 2010. Oklahoma forward Romero Osby heard his named called at No. 42 by the Orlando Magic.

This year’s draft is the 16th time in 17 seasons the Big 12 has had at least one first-round choice. A total of 91 players from the Big 12 have been selected since the first season in ‘96-97. After Kansas, the Texas Longhorns are next among current members with 16 draftees, followed by Iowa State and Oklahoma with eight each. Baylor (5), Oklahoma State (5), Texas Tech (3) and Kansas State (2) round out the Big 12 team draft totals.

The Big 12 has had at least four players drafted in each of the last 10 years. In addition, there has been at least one league athlete among the top 10 overall selections in 13 of 17 seasons.